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We all have our own beliefs or non-beliefs when it comes to things like religion and spirituality. I don't think any two people can have the exact same beliefs as another person. Maybe that's why it's so difficult for so many people to respect the religions, beliefs, and faith of others. Personally, I know exactly what I believe. At the same time, I am more than willing to learn about what other people believe. I'm quickly starting to realize that I fall into the minority when it comes to things like this though.People just seem so closed off to anything different from what they hold as true. I'm taking a World Religions class at school. Today we began disscussing chapter one in the book and I immediately saw how negatively some people responded to religions different from their own. I can kind of respect people for wanting to defend their faith. I don't however like or agree with trying to make your religion seem superior to all others. Who or what gives someone the right to deny all other beliefs as false just because they deviate from their own ideas. To me, it seems like the second someone has to bash or put down another form of spirituality, it just shows a crack in their own faith. It's as if they're saying "I can't prove my religion is better than yours, so I'm going to belittle your faith and make mine seem superior." If people would take a closer look, they would see the underlying common thread that most religions in the world today seem to share. Some people pray to Allah, others pray to God. Some find spirituality in a Bible, and some find it in nature. But ultimately we're all putting our faith into something that is beyond ourself. So who's to say that we're not all praying to the same divine power, just incarnated into different forms across different borders? I have a feeling that statement alone will anger a lot of people. But think about it, Agnosticism gets a lot of flack from religious groups. However, how many of us can say that we understand our divine being, whether it be God or something else, completely? If anyone said they understood God completely, I'd call them a liar. Isn't that the point of God? He's incomprehendable, above us all, the beginning and the end, He's everywhere and nowhere at the same time. What mere mortal could even begin to fathom that sort of power?Even though we can't understand it, we can respect and fear it. What makes us respect this enormous, unseen thing or being, but we can't respect eachother's religions? People are so hypocritical, it drives me mad. The Bible says "love thy neighbor" yet there are religious wars being raged at this very moment. I just wish everyone could practice their faith or lack of faith freely, without the fear of being judged or even killed for what they believe.Religion, faith, and spirituality give most people a sense of calm. A feeling of unconditional love and grace. It can also be the spark of hatred and division amongst people. The world is a tough enough place without throwing religion into the middle of everything. I just wish that one day people will be able to accept the fact that not everyone is going to believe exactly like they do. So instead of fighting a losing battle, why not put down our arms, and perk up our ears. Learn about other faiths and people. You never know what you'll discover. My challenge to you: Do a little research on a religion you don't know much about. Im sure you'll find something interesting. Perhaps you'll even find similarities to your own beliefs.

I've slowly come to the realization that people are just big, fat liars. They say one thing, and do the complete opposite of whatever it is they told you. One lie in particular that I seem to hear the most is that someone cares about me. I've heard it so many times. However, every person that has told me this, has hurt me on so many levels. I was under the impression (silly me) that we want to protect the people we care about, not hurt them.

Sure, I've heard of telling little lies to protect the people we care about, but I've never heard of blatently lying to someone we supposedly loved and cared about. What sick and twisted satisfaction do these liars get out of building us believers up, and tearing us down? If it's happened to you, then you know exactly what I'm talking about. These liars put you up on this pedestal, and make you feel like you're so secure, and that they'll be there to support you forever. Then out of nowhere, they disappear. Sometimes they'll give you an excuse. The whole, "It's not you, it's me" line is always great. Other times they just vanish. Not even leaving a puff of smoke behind them. Maybe the "pressure" of caring for another soul got to heavy for them. Last time I checked, didn't science suggest the human soul weighs 21 grams? I don't know, but unless a person has the upper body strength of a flea, 21 grams doesn't seem like too much to carry around. Maybe I'm the only person out here that continually keeps getting duped. Perhaps I'm just too guilible for my own good. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. If you tell me something, I believe it. So for example when someone tells me they want to be in my life, I assume this statement means they actually want to be in my life. How foolish of me, right? Apparently what this statement means is "I want to show up in your life, give you some false hope that I'm sorry for the things I did and said in the past, and then I plan on leaving you again. Pretty much the exact same way I did before."I just wish people had the capacity to be honest with one another. Stop giving people false hope. Stop leading them on. If you want to be in someone's life, be in it, and stay in it. Don't just show up whenever it's convenient for you. I know we all live busy lives, but in the time it takes to create a lie or walk out on someone, you could just sit down and be honest with them. Tell that person exactly what you want.I didn't intentionally write a rant. I just get seriously frustrated with people and with myself. I'm afraid I'm setting myself up to get hurt constantly because of my optimistic attitude towards certain things and people. I'm tired of being lied to. So my challenge for you: If you care about someone, don't lie to them. Honesty really is the best policy.

There are tons of television shows out there that try to prove the existance of ghosts. Most of these shows are completely over the top, and ridiculous. Which is probably why so many of us deny the existance of ghosts. But anyone who says ghosts aren't real is lying to themself. Ghosts are walking among us each and every day.These ghosts and demons usually belong to the skeletons in our closets. They like to haunt us on a daily basis, and then appear out of nowhere. Usually when we are least equipped to handle their presence. They can send chills down our spine, make us afraid of our own shadows, and fear the darkness. They can drive us mad with wonder and confusion. It's like they're constantly around us, and never there at the same time. How is this even possible?What is it that makes these ghosts want to show up when we're feeling the most vulnerable? Do they have a supernatural sixth sense? Or an innate drive to hurt us? Or maybe they don't intend to hurt us. Perhaps we are the demons of our ghosts. It's a vicious cycle of hauntings, and one ghost decides to rattle their chains before the other. Whatever the reason, I believe we're all haunted at one point or another in our life. It's our own decision whether or not we want to deny their presence, exercise the spirits, or confront our demons head on. No matter what we decide to do, we can only hope that we make the right choice.Question: Who or what haunts you? And are you ready to face that ghost?

What is it that lets a person know they have found the person they are meant to be with forever? People are constantly saying "you just know" But the hell is it that they know? Is it possible for two people to be perfectly happy together, but they aren't meant to be together? Or what about people that make eachother miserable 99% of the time, but at the end of the day they're perfect for eachother? What makes a couple compatible? Is it attraction that leads to a lasting relationship? There are millions of attractive people walking around out there, and I'm sure a ton of them are single. Everyone's idea of what's attractive is different. I remember a conversation I had with my sister years ago about what made a guy attractive. She began by describing the perfect physical features a guy could posess to her. I did the same. Sure, tall, dark and handsome might catch my eye more than scrawny, pale, and ginger, but looks only get you so far with me. I've never dated someone based on the way they look (haha trust me, if you could see some of them you'd know I wasn't lying). Everyone probably has a "type" that they are attracted to, but honestly, how many people actually end up with that kind of person?Then again, attraction can't be based solely on looks. Aside from looks, the first thing I look for in someone is the abilty to hold my interest. I get bored very easily. I have a very unique sense of humor, and if you don't understand it, you can't possibly understand me. I've always had a different take on things. To me, the idea of monogomy sounds an awful lot like monotony. If a person wants to keep me, they have to keep me on the tip of my toes. I hate repetition. One thing I would be horrified with would be falling into a relationship that was too comfortable. I want to be with someone that is up for anything, and wants to challenge me. When I say challenge me, I mean that in all aspects. I want my ideas to be challenged, make me look at things from a different perspective. I'm very stubborn, so I need someone equally stubborn. Passive attitudes are extremely annoying. I don't want someone that's just going to lay down and roll over. I want someone to butt heads with me, but at the end of the day we still respect eachother. A very attractive quality to me is having an opinon, and not being afraid to voice it. Even if I don't agree with a damn thing you're saying, say it. The fact that you stand behind something so firmly is sexy. I don't want a lap dog that agrees with everything I say.I'd consider myself a pretty strong, and very independent person, but I don't want to make all the decisions. I can be very indecisive at times. I like it when a guy isn't afraid to take charge sometimes. This doesn't mean I want to be bossed around, but I hate it when a guy wants to let me make all of the decisions so I'm satisfied. Sometimes the most satisfying thing in the world is being able to sit back, and let someone else take the reigns every once in a while. These are things that are attractive to me, but a person could possess all of these qualities and it still wouldn't mean they were perfect for me. I don't think attraction is the sole key to finding a soulmate. I believe passion is a also a key player. I want someone that is passionate about life. Someone with big dreams, and big ideas. I also believe a healthy amount of passion for eachother is helpful. If you're not sexually attracted to someone how could anything between the two of you last? I believe passion for the world outside, and passion behind drawn curtains have a lot to do with the longevity of a relationship. I guess my conclusion is that attraction and passion are the two main factors in a lasting relationship. But then again, I believe there is this other unnamed thing. Something you can't put your finger on, but if it's missing you just know. I think it's that feeling at the pits of our stomachs that we all experience at some point or another. It's the thing that a lot of us tend to ignore. Which is why I think there are so many people out there still in relationships that they know wont last. Why stay with someone when you know it's simply not right? On a much lighter note, when that thing is there you can feel it. Coursing through your veins. Igniting your heart with passion. The embers are constantly burning in that woodstove. You're completely attracted to that other person, and you feel it in every once of your being. When you know, you just know, and when it's wrong, you can feel it. So my challenge to all of you: Assess the situation you're in right now. Do you know it's right? Or can you feel that something's missing?